Looking for a break from road trips? Are you an outdoor enthusiast who wants to head to a bike trail or off to ski country? Perhaps you’re seeking a romantic getaway or just relaxing somewhere by lake or mountain scenery. Destinations to the north and west, plus states and cities in between, are all possible from the local Croton-Harmon train station (CRT) with an Amtrak ticket to adventure. Combine a little research with a yearning for something different, and train travel from CRT could soon be on your must-try list. Here’s how:
Find Your Way on the Amtrak Map
As many as 10 Amtrak trains with names like the Adirondack to Montreal, the Empire Service to Niagara Falls, the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago, the Maple Leaf to Toronto, and the Ethan Allen Express to Vermont stop daily at Croton-Harmon. Start with the Travel Planning Map on Amtrak’s website (www.amtrak.com) to see where each Amtrak train can take you throughout the US and into Canada. You’ll find schedules with all the stops on the route, prices for each travel class and available accommodations, arrangements for traveling with pets, skis and bikes, plus maps and descriptions of landmarks along the way. Don’t forget to check the “Deals” tab at the top of the page for seasonal packages and everyday discounts for seniors, veterans, and children. Organize a group trip, and the per person Share Fare price can drop 60%!
Backpack vs. Baggage
Once you’ve decided where you want to “land” on your train trip, preparing for a daytrip to Rhinecliff, NY (RHI) (one hour each way) versus four days to San Francisco, CA (EMY)) requires different strategies. For daytrips, investigate distances to town/attractions/restaurants/museums, so you’re prepared to walk, bike, or grab a bus or cab. Long-distance travel involves other considerations. Take, for example, those four days to San Francisco. The first leg of the trip would be on the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited (Amtrak #48) overnight to Chicago (CHI). So, if you are comfortable sleeping in coach, then that can reduce your costs. In Chicago, you connect with Amtrak’s California Zephyr (Amtrak #6) for the 53 hours to the West Coast. That’s when you need to decide what type of accommodation will be best for you (see next paragraph), figuring out how much luggage you want to handle/take/carry/check, and working through meals and food service options.
Choosing Accommodations: What’s Your Comfort Level?
Coach, Business Class, Roomette, or Bedroom? Trains operating out of Chicago and heading west or south offer combinations of Coach, Business Class, and overnight accommodations (Roomettes and Bedrooms) as well as the double-decker Superliner Observation Cars. Coach travelers have a Café car for light meals payable by credit/debit/gift card plus an area with tables for eating, work, games, and gathering. Considered First Class, the private rooms come with meals in the Dining Car (regional fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and use of the Metropolitan Lounges in Amtrak Stations in Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The biggest difference between Roomette and Bedroom? Roomettes do not have a toilet or shower, although a large restroom is located in each car. The Bedroom has a self-contained shower/toilet. The Amtrak website is helpful here in showing floor plans, measurements, photos of every type of accommodation, and sample menus. The Amtrak conductors are especially helpful, too, in reserving Dining Car seatings, preparing beds for the night, assisting with luggage, and answering any of your questions.
Closer to Home
If you’re not ready for long-distance travel, and a day/weekend adventure is just the “ticket”, check www.newyorkbyrail.com for guides to scenic train travel destinations throughout New York State: Watkins Glen, Seneca Falls, Saratoga Springs, Lake Placid, Niagara Falls, to name a few.
But whatever your train travel plans, take advantage of the fact that travelling between mountains, over bridges, through tunnels and stretches of open countryside means WIFI can be spotty. So, this is the time to detach from the everyday, unplug from noise and distraction, and read, relax, and enjoy an experience on the rails. There’s something for everyone on Amtrak, and it all starts at CRT. Welcome aboard!
Croton-Harmon Station (Amtrak/Metro North)
1 Croton Point Avenue
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520-3054
1-800-872-7245
